Boiler and fire-box construction.



1. M. MCCLELLAN. BOILER AND FIRE BOI( CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILEDMAR. I3. I9I3.

`1,203,376.4 Patented out.. 31,1916.Y

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` J. M. MCCLELLAN. BOILR AND FIRE BOXCDNSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILEDVMAR.13, 1913.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

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Inventos@ im M. M m

w d W I. M. NICCLELLAN.

BOILER AND FlHE Box CONSTRUCTION,

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 13,1913.

Patented Oct. 31,1916.

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y UNITED sajATEs PATENT Ormea.

JAMES M. McLELLAN, onnvnnn'r'r,MAssAcHUsETTs.

BorLEn. AND Finn-Box CONSTRUCTION.

To all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, J AMES M. MCCLELLAN, a citizen of the United States,and resident of Everett, in the county of -Middlesex and Commonwealth ofMassachusetts, have invented an .Improvement in Boiler and Fire- BoXConstructions, ofrwhich the following description, in connection withthe accom* panying drawings, is a specification, like characters on thedrawings representing like parts. Y l

This invention relates to boilers and fireboxes,V and more particularlyto constructions of the locomotive type.

The character of the invention maybe best understood by reference to thefollowi ing description of an villustrative embodiment thereof vshown inthe accompanying drawing, wherein:`

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a portion of anillustrativel barrel and'fire-boxy embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is avertical transverse section taken on line 2 2 of Fig, 1; Fig. 3 is asection taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1 ;',Fig. 4 is a vertical transversesection of a modification; Fig. 5 is a sectional detail taken on line5-5 of Fig. LlyandFigs. 6, 7 and' 8 are details to be, referred to.

Referring to thedrawing, the illustrative structure shown therein asembodyingv the invention comprises a barrel 1 containing usual Vlues 3having endsy entering a Huesheet 5 connected with said barrel by athroat sheet 7. The meeting ends of the Hue-sheet and throat sheet areconnected byy astrip 411 secured thereto. Interposed be tween-the lowerends of said sheets is a foundation member 9 secured thereto. i

An important feature of the invention relates to the fire-box closure.This closure comprises a series of hollow sections or tubes 15 ofsubstantial' diameter having ends entered into said flue-sheet, saidtubes being` lnchned downward from said sheet toward ,the rear end ofthe ire-box where they are entered into and communicate with a hollowrear wall comprising spaced plates 17 (Fig' l) flanged and rivetedtogether. As shown, v

these inclined tubes have their ends bent somewhat in order that -theymay enter the line-,sheet and inner wall 17 perpendicularly thereto. Theseries' of tubes described are assembled in arch or other appropriate`form v Specication of Letters Patent.

" 'PatentaOcn zaiilsencg.v

Application led March 13, 1913.' Serial No. 753,944.

i and constitute the sides and crown of the mi4 y ment since, amongother things, it enables a tube portion greater than an arc of 180degrees to be exposed .to the .high heat within the yfire-box andthereby greatly increases the 'capacity' of the tube as a steamgenerating element. Y

' v'.lhet'op of the rear wall is a substantial distance beneath the topof the barrel and the wall "tubes have a decided inclination y towardsaid wall. This inclination is an im-4 portant feature of the inventionand one great advantage` thereof resides in the fact that afysubstantial lowering of the water level in the barrel uncovers butlavery small is 1n communication'with said barrel. In

son,y

portion of the tubular fire-box closure which Y other words, the waterin the barrel may lower to a level beneath any usual or probablelevelwithout loweringl the water in' the tire-box4 inclined tubessuiiiciently fto dangerously expose the latter.

As'shown herein, the uppermost portions of the tubes are above thebarrel water level,

but the How ofwet steam therethrough will take up heat from said tubeportions and prevent theirburning out. As shown herein, the series ofinclined tubes do not extend -to the bottom of the sides of thefire-box,

but the lower portions of the sides are formed by U-shaped plates 21each having a foundation lmember 23 interposedbetween the walls of thechamber formedA by said.

plates and riveted or A otherwise secured thereto. 'vYSaid walls may bestiened by stay bolts appropriately distributed. Each U-shaped Vplateextends to and through an aperture 25 in the lower portionoftheflue-sheet and is riveted to a flange 21a pnojecting from" saidflue-sheet ,around said a erture. The opposite end of each U- s apedplate extends to the inner sheet 17 of barrel tothe hollow rear wall.

Heretoforer it has been customary to -inoline the grate of the fire-boxtoward the front'ofthe latter in order that the draft up through thegrate might burn the fuel more uniformly overfthe'grate and convey theproducts of combustion as dlrectly tothe barrel iiues as possible. Thevalue'of hollow walls vof -a lire-box for` generatin steam makes itdesirable'to direct the pro ucts ef combustion back so they sweep aroundin heating contact with as much of' the'interlor surface of the fire-boxa's possible. To accomplish this a bafie was introduced in the fire-box,but the gratewas `permitted to re- -main with its forward inclination.'This? arrangement ofy grate and baiiie unduly confines' yand restrictsthe free and uniform burnl ing of the products of combustion since it isobvious that 4totake advantage Aof the full A grate rea there shouldbe adraft-through the grate substantially perpendicular to the plane of thegrate. In orderto approach this latter condition as much as possible,inf.

stead of inolining the grate toward the front of the lire-'box aS hasheretofore been the practice, there is provided a Y ate 27 whichinclines 'toward the rear o the -iire-box. This grate -is-provided `witha baiie 31 of tiles supported by tubes' 33 inclined and slightlyvarched,the ends .of said tubes 'being I entered into the flue sheet andinner sheet, of

the rear. wall. The water may circulate through said tubes and preventtheir burning out. By this' widely diverging arrange-l ment of rate andbaffle the products of com bustion rom substantially the entire gratearea are directed rearwardly to sweep around and contact with the rearportions of the tubes in the iire-box,"thereby greatly i11- creasingtheir effectivene in heating all of the steam generating surfaces withinthe fire-box. To facilitate the introduction and removal of these baiilesupporting tubes the throat sheet and outer sheet of the rear walli`,are provided with plugs 35 entered into holes in said sheets tubes.

To prevent ashes from entering between the portionsy of tubes adjacentthegrate bars, fillers 37 (Fig. 1) may be interposed between said tubesand welded thereto. To provide additional steam generating surfaces,a-Se.-

opposite the ends of said ries of large supplemental tubes 39 similar tothe fire-box closure tubes 15 may be provided. These tubes may beintroduced within the lire-box adjacent the crown' thereof,` and asshown herein, are arranged in a hori i zontal row with ends entered andexpanded in the flue-sheet-and inner sheet'of the rear lwall andinclined from the former down toward the latter. Preferably theinclination and, diameters of the supplemental tubes are greater thanthose of the wa'll lclosure tubes since, being located in the hottestpart of the fire-box, they are more active in generating steam4 andrequire more water. The ebulli!v tion o r steam generating processoccurrin in these tubes tends to create rapid upwar of these ytubesoli'erslessopposition to the upward' flow'of'these rapid currents. The

location of the supplemental tubes beneath the crown shields the lattersomewhat froml 'currents in them. The greater inclination the hotproducts of combustion' in the irebox, .and thereby protects the crownand prevents liability of its being burntrout. To facilitate removal andreplacement of any of the wal-l and supplemental steam' generatingtubes, the outer sheet of the rear wall may be provided with hand holes,each somewhat larger than the diameter of the tube opposite thereto andhaving a closure plu 4 3.

The fire-box may be provi ed with a superheatershown herein as a lseriesof relatively slnall U-shaped return tubes 45 having endsI enteredthrough 'the flue-sheet 5, and

preferably located between the supplemental.l steam enerating tubes 39and thev crowntubes o the lire-box. To contribute to the support of thesuperheater tubes they may rest on 'transverse bridge bars 47interposed. between thetubes at intervals.

As stated, the water is fed from .the barrel through the U-shapedlchambersat the bottoms of the sides of the fire-box to the rear wall ofthe latter. The water rises in this wall and circulates up through theinclined closure tube and supplemental tubes, the steam generated bysaid tubes being directly de-I livered into the upper portion of thebarrel. To conduct the steam into the superheater there may be provideda receiving or entrance chamber 49 (Figs. 1v and 8) compris` ing a wallplate 51 convenientlyv of channel shaped section havingua flange r'vetedor otherwise secured to the flue sheet referred to. This plate 51 is`'shaped to conform to the outline formed by the assembl of superheatertubes as shown in dotted ines in Fig. 2. The wall of the chamber'49Opposite the flue sheet 5 is formed by a plate 53 conveniently Vintegralwith and formed of the same 1casting as the wall 51.

Each of the U-shaped superheaterl'tubes comprises two legs, one longerthan theother. The short leg. is entered through the n flue sheet 5 andcommunicates with` the in- 130 terior of the chamber 49, while the `longleg projects through the iue sheet and chamber and through the plate 53.To take steam from as high a portion of the barrel as possible,thechamber 49 may be provided-.With a series of 'uprightinlet tubes 55having ends expanded or otherwise secured in the upper wall of V saidchamber. Y The' steam passes from the upper portion of the barrelthrough said inlet tubes 55 into the receiving chamber 49 passing thencethrough the short legs of the U-shaped super-heater tubes andreturningthrough the long legs of the latter.

To receive and conduct the steam from said 16 long legs of thesuperheatertubes there may be provided a chamber 57 preferably providedwith a double wall to insulate and prevent the loss of temperature inthechamber from the lower temperature of the surround- 20 ing steam in thebarrel. This double wall may terminate in end anges 59 and 61, one beingsecured to the flanges of the receiving chamber walll and the votherbeing secured to a double wall pipe 63 for conducting the superheatedsteam through the barrel. To pei-init access to the shorter legs of theU- shaped superheater tubes the entrance chamber plate' vmay be providedwith plugsv 65 i threaded' in apertures in said plate opposite thejendsofthe short legs of the superheater tubes. i

In Figs. 4 land 5 is shown a rear wall construction comprising spacedplates 67 flanged Y and-riveted together, said plates being similar inform to the plates 17, 17 shown in Fig.

1 of the drawing, with the exception that inL stead of a rfoundationmember such as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 extending*straightY across `thetire-box from side to side of the latter.

there is provided a short foundation member 69iinterposed between theplates 67 and ex'V4 tending a substantial distance across the lireboxtoward theopposite sides of the latter, the platesc67 being cut away toprovide a 15' substantial space in the'wall beneath ,the

' door of the fire-box .to receive the running gear frame of thelocomotive and permit an advantageous-lowering of the fire-box.

Asshow'n in Fig. 1, the wall closuretubes and supplemental tubes haveends expanded )into apertures in a flat flue sheet.' Insome cases it maybe desirableto form or press nipples 71 .(Fig.'6) from said sheet. Eachl of these nipples has an inturned .anged 5 aperture 73 into which theend of a'tube i may be expanded or welded. If desired, the

inturned flange may be omitted vin somev cases and straight tubularnipples such as 75 i- (-Figa 7) may be pressed or formed from the,

so flue sheet and the tubes may be introduced and welded therein.. Bythe construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 itis not necessary tov bendtheends of the tubes as shown in Fig.

1, but on the contraryl they-may remain-- .65 y"straight throughout. f

' The fire-box closure describedis extremely simple and strong inconstruction; with no staybolts, rivets or ob] ectionable projections toinvite sediment or incrustation, but the tubes thereof are smooththroughout and thereby permit a free unimpaired circulationtherethrough. The ofset fillers connecting the tubes leave substantial,portions f of the latter exposed to the high heat within the fire-boxand thereby very materially increase the available steam generatingsurface of the fire-box. Also because such a large portiony of .a tubeis exposed to the direct heat in the fire-box the tendency is to heatthe tube throughout to the same temperature. rllhe fillerand therebyraises the temperature of -the latten The fact that the inner faces ofthe filler are exposed to the direct heat of the re-box also .assists inmaintaining this uniform temperature. The offset location of high.temperature of the principal portion of the tube is readilyv conductedtothe smaller portion of the tube outside of the the illers 'hasafurther important advan tage since it permits the spacing ,of the tubessufc'iently to allow a free expansion and contraction thereof withoutcrowding oney another and distortion Vof the assembly of tubes as awhole.

In practice, the water levelin the barrel Vof the boiler should never bepermitted to be lowered beneath thev top flues in the barrel. Because ofthe inclination of the irebox closure and supplemental steam generatingtubes there remains but a very small portion of thse tubes above thewater level yof said top fines. As a result, there can be no possibilityof the'water level being low'- ered suiiiciently in said wall closureand supindispensable thatv all of the features ,de-V scribed should beused conjointly since some of them may be used separately to adl antage.n

What I claim as new and desire to by'Letters Patent is:

f 1,. In a fire-box, a-'side wall comprising Secure 'a series 'of largecirculation'tubes inclined downward from one end of the fire-box towardthe Vother and extending longitudispirit, and scope of the invention. Itis not". 'f

nally of the latter, said tubes being welded l together intermediatetheir ends to formu efect` a continuous integral side closure.

v 2. In a Iire7box, a. side wall comprising-130 a series of hollowcirculation sections in' lined downward from one endof the Hre X towardthe other, and means intermeuous side closure for the lire-box.

3. In a tire-box, the combination of a Hue sheet and a side wallcomprising a series of circulation tubes connected tosaidsheet andinclined downward away therefrom, and means intermediate the ends ofsaid tubes for/securing them together, thereby providing a continuousside closure for the HreboX,

4. In a fire-box, the,combination of a Hue sheet at one end thereof, ahollow wall at the opposite end thereof, and side walls connecting saidHue sheet and end wall, each` comprising a series of large circulationtubes inclined downward from said .Hue sheet to said end wall, and meansintermediate the ends of said tubes for securing them to'- gether,thereby providing a continuous side closure.

5. In a. fire-box, a side series of large tubes inclined downward fromone end of the fire-box toward the other, llers .interposed between 'andwelded to said tubes and offset from the centers thereof to providesteam generating surfaces adjacent the interior of the fire-box eachofan arc greater than 180 degrees.

6. In a fire-box, the combination of a crown and side walls composed ofseries of circulation tubes inclined downward from one end of thefire-box .toward the other, and

means intermediate the ends of said tubes for securing them togethertoform a con it'ginuous side and crown closurefor the lireox. A f

7. In a fire-box, the combinatioii'of an arched crown and side wallscomposed of ay seriesof tubes inclined downward from one end of thefire-box toward the other, and means intermediate the ends of said tubesfor securing them together to form a continuous side and crown closure.

8. Ina fire-box comprising a Hue shee a hollow end wall, side walls anda crown connecting said Hue sheet with said end-wall comprising a seriesof closely arranged tubes inclined downward froml said Hue'sheet to saidhollow wall, a'.nd means intermediate the 'ends of said tubes' forsecuring them` together. I

9. In va fire-box, 'the combination of a Hue sheet, a hollow rear wallofset downward from said Hue sheet, and side walls connecting said Huesheet with said hollow wall comprising series of circulation tubesinclined downward from said Hue sheet to said end wall, and meansintermediate the ends of said tubes for securin them together, therebyproviding continuous side closures. 'f

wall comprising a 10. In a fire-boit. `the combination "of a side wallcomprising a series of-circulation tubes inclined downward away fromtheHue sheet of the fire-box, means intermediate the ends of .said tubesfor securing' them together, return tubes inclined downward away fromsaid Hue sheet, and steam vgenerating tubes extending downward away thecombination of a barrel with la lire-box,

a Hue sheet between them,`Hues in said barrel connected to said sheet,side wall clo-.L

sure tubes communicating with said barrel through said sheet andinclined downward away from the latter, A and means connecting saidtubes intermediate their ends, thereby providing a continuous sideclosure for the fire-box.

13. In an apparatus of the -class described, the combination of a barrel1 having Hues therein, a Hue sheet 5 connected to saidbarrel, and afire-box comprising a hollowend wall, a hollow steamgenerating externalclosure for the fire-box comprising tubes 15 connected to said Hue sheetand end wall and inclined downward yfrom the former to the'latter, meansy19 for securing said tubes together intermediate the ends thereof;superheater tubes 45 adjacent the top of theHre-box and inclineddownward from said Hue sheet, and supplemental steam-generating tubes 39distributed across the Hrebox adjacent said superheater't'ubes andinclined downwardfromsaid Hue sheet to said end wall. Y

14. In an apparatus .of the class described,

thecombination of a barrel; Hues therein;

a Hue-sheet; a hollow rear wall; a steam generating side closure wallfor said firecommunicating with said barrel and wall and inclined fromsaid Hue-sheet toward said rear wall, whereby the lowering of theboxcoinprisinga series of hollow sections 15. In an apparatus of theclass described', the combination of a barrel; a Hue-sheet; e

and a steam generating side closurewall communicating with 'said barrelthrough said sheet and inclined downward from the latter, whereby thelowering of the' water level of the barrel uncovers a portion of saidwall'gradually increasing laterally. 16. In a fire-box, the combinationof a iso fiue sheet a wall comprisingl a series of superposed, hollowsections inclined downward away from said flue sheet; a baiiie extendingtransversely to said sections; and a grate beneath said baflie inclinedtoward the rear end ofthe lire-box.

17. In a fire-box, the combination of a wall comprising a series ofhollow sections inclined toward the rear of the fire-box; and awatencirculation chamber located beneath said sections.

18. The lcombination of a wall comprising a series of hollow sectionsinclined toward the rear of the ireebox; and a water circulation chamberlocated beneath said sections and having walls stayed together.

19. In a fire-box, the combination of a wall comprising a series ofhollow sections inclined toward the rear of the fire-box; and acirculation chamber beneath said `sections and Haring indifferentdirections toward its ends.

20. In a ire-box, the combination of a wall comprising a series ofhollow sections inclined toward the rear of the ire-box andv a chamberbeneath said sections comprising a U-shaped plate having stayedsurfaces.

21. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of a barrelwith a flue-sheet and a throat sheet; iues for said barrel; a hollowrear wall; a series of hollow sections inclined downward from` saidflue-sheet to ward said rear wall; and a water circulation chamberbeneath 'said sections for condutlzing water from said barrel to saidrear wa 22. `The combination of a barrel with flue-sheet; a hollow rearwall; a series of hollow wall sections inclined from said iiuesheettoward said rear wall; a U-shaped plate beneath said tubes; and afoundation member interposed between the lower ends of said plate.

V23. In a fire-box, the combination of a flue-sheet, a back wall, andcrown and side tubleles directly connected with said sheet and Wa 24. Ina lire-box, the combination of a ue-sheet with lues projecting in onedirection therefrom and wall closure tubes projecting in an oppositedirection therefrom.

25. In a fire-box, the combination of a series of hollow wall sectionshaving provision providing circulation toward' one end of the fire-boxand thence toward the opposite end thereof.

26. In a ire-box, the combination of a barrel, a flue sheet, and hollowwall sections having provision for receiving a downward circulation fromthe lower part of the barrel through the flue-sheet, and provisionpermitting an upward circulation to the upper part of said barrel. y

27. In a fire-box, the combination of a barrel, a flue-sheet, and hollowwall sectionsy for the ire-box projecting substantially longitudinallyof said barrel.

28. In a fire-box, the combination of a closure comprising sides and acrown of hol` low inclined water lcirculation sections.

29. In a fire-box, the combination of a closure comprising sides and acrown of yhollow inclined circulation sections and `two subscribingwitnesses.'

JAMES M. MGCLELLAN. Witnesses: HENRY T. WiLLIAMs,

ROBERT H. KAMMLER.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,203,376, grantedOctober 31, 1916, upon the application of James McClellan, of- Everett,Massachusetts, for an improvement in Boiler and Fire-Box Constructions,en error appears in the printed specification requiring correction esfollows: Page 4, line 48, claim 8, strike out the vrord comprising" andinsert 'a comme. and the Words the combination of; and that the seidLetters Patent should be read with this correction therein that tl-leseme may conform to the record of the cese in the Patent Oce.

Signed end sealed this 24th dey of April, A. DI, 19174.

F. W. H. CLAY,

Acting C'ommuoner of Patents.

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